GHPB's Monthly Commerce Club Luncheon - May 18, 2023

Happy Wednesday! We have made it halfway through the week!

We hope to see you at the Greater Houston Port Bureau Commerce Club Monthly Luncheon at the Houston Marriott South at Hobby Airport on this Thursday, May 18, 2023.  It should be an interesting luncheon with it being the Retirement Celebration for Captain Bill Diehl, President of GHPB.  If you would like more details, please click the link: May 2023 Commerce Club Luncheon - Greater Houston Port Bureau (txgulf.org)

If you need help with planning your next project, contact us via the email in the blog and check out our ESC's website!

We hope to see you there to say,” Goodbye to Captain Diehl!”  We hope you have a great and productive rest of your week!

Learnings from the "Leaders in Industry" Speakers Series Monthly Luncheon

Happy Tuesday!  

We went to the “Leaders in Industry” Speakers’ Series Luncheon today which is the combination of Houston Producers Forum (HPF), Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA), and Texas Independent Producers & Royalty Owners Association (TIPRO) which is held at The Petroleum Club of Houston.  The speaker was Alan Armstrong – President and Chief Executive Officer of Williams.   Mr. Armstrong gave an interesting talk about natural gas and how it has been adapting to the markets demand, and it has been producing to keep the lights on.  He spoke about how it has helped us reduce emissions but helped us keep the power on which is allowing for coal plants to go offline.   Electrification of the world will only increase the demand for natural gas and other energies, and this will increase our need for more infrastructure to get the power to the people.  In the talk, the US needs three things to happen to permitting reform for interstate pipelines: water crossings, revisit projects which were denied, and expedite appeals.  The talk ended with a proposed solution which is natural gas brings reduced emissions and sustainable generation of power, but for this to happen we need to improve infrastructure to get power to consumers, we need to transform our energy policy to help build out our infrastructure, and help producing companies get their products to the market.  It was a very nice talk, and we hope to see you next time!  If you would to learn something, check out the next luncheon for HPF, please click the link: Oil & Gas Luncheons & Events | Houston Producers Forum.

If you need help with planning your next project and getting your product to your customers or storing it, contact us via the email in the blog and check out our ESC's website!

Have a good evening!

Houston Producers Forum's Monthly "Leaders in Industry" Luncheon - May 16th

Welcome back to a new week!  We hope it was a restful weekend, and you are ready for a new week to begin!

We hope to see you at the Houston Producers Forum Monthly Luncheon at The Petroleum Club of Houston on Tuesday, May 16, 2023.  It should be an interesting talk given by Alan Armstrong – President and Chief Executive Officer of Williams.   If you would like more details, please click the link: ALAN ARMSTRONG - President & CEO, WILLIAMS | HPF (houstonproducersforum.org).

Come by and say, “Hello” at the tomorrow’s luncheon!  We look forward to meeting you!   Ask us how we can help with planning of your next project!  Or contact us via the email in the blog and check out our ESC’s website!

We hope you have a great and productive week!  Have a great and relaxing evening!

US EIA Short-Term Energy Outlook has been released!

The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) just released its Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO) was released on May 9, 2023; it is now available from the EIA website. 

We just wanted to let you know next month the EIA will adjust their methodology model for the STEO and will combine a 30-year trendline and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) forecast to create US weather forecast.  The change will result in warmer forecasts in the weather for the US for the seasons and will influence some series that weather is an independent variable.   One of the forecasts this change will affect is Natural Gas Consumption.

Please click the link: Short-Term Energy Outlook - U.S.Energy Information Administration (EIA).

Check out our Blog yesterday about some of the things discussed in the EIA’s SEO.

Have a fun weekend!  See you next week!

US EIA Weekly Updates for Petroleum & Other Liquids and Natural Gas are now all available!

The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) Weekly Reports for Petroleum and Other Liquids, Gasoline and Diesel Fuel, and Natural Gas for the week ending May 12, 2023, are all now available from the EIA website. 

See what happened this Week in Petroleum by clicking the link: This Week in Petroleum - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

See what happened in the Weekly Petroleum Status Report by clicking the link: Weekly Petroleum Status Report - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)

See what happened this week in Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update, by clicking the link: Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

See what else happened this week in Natural Gas Weekly Update by clicking the link: Natural Gas Weekly Update (eia.gov).

See what happened this week in Natural Gas Storage by clicking the link:  Weekly Natural Gas Storage Report - EIA.

We would like to note there is no Heating Oil and Propane Update until October 2023. 

Have a relaxing and fun weekend!

SPR and summer demand will influence the price of crude oil.

Happy Thursday! 

Did anyone read online on MSN from Reuters on Tuesday, May 9, 2023 their article titled, “Oil recoups losses on plans for SPR refill, higher seasonal demand”?  In the article it speaks about how the market has been affected by the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) plans to begin buying back oil to replenish what it released into the market and expectations of summer increasing demand for oil.  The US government is expected to start buying oil to replenish the SPR later this year.  The article speaks about the US Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) latest Short-Term Energy Outlook (SEO) Report expects for demand to be high this summer, but lower than last year, and with OPEC+ cut in production will cause prices for crude oil rise.   EIA also predicts that US Crude will increase production to keep up with demand.  The article goes on to speak about how our debt ceiling is influencing the market and inflation.  If you would like to read more of the article from Reuters for free on MSN.com, please click the link: Oil recoups losses on plans for SPR refill, higher seasonal demand (msn.com).

If you would like to check out the EIA’s SEO Report which was released May 9, 2023, please click the link: Short-Term Energy Outlook - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

Don’t forget to check out our ESC’s website or contact us via the email in the blog, if you need help with developing a project. 

We hope you have a great and relaxing night!

American-Made Energy (Map) - Where are we in developing? Lithium Batteries in Texas.

Happy Hump Day aka Wednesday! 

We received an interesting email from the US Department of Energy Wind Energy Technologies Office (WETO).  They speak about Investments in American-Made Energy since the Bipartisan Infrastructure bill and the billions which is supposed to be used for expanding our resilience on us instead of those aboard.     The DOE has a map of all the investments in the States for things like American-Made batteries, solar manufacturing, and offshore wind manufacturing and port investments thus far private investors and the US government have invested over $104 billion which is going towards our self-sustaining energy future.  Just this week in Texas, a new lithium battery plant was announced.

Did anyone read about it in Tuesday, May 9, 2023 The Houston Chronicle’s Business Section and its article called, “Musk, Abbott celebrate partnership – Tesla lithium refinery is S. Texas praised as part of what one analyst calls ‘techno utopia’.  A battery-grade lithium refinery is being built in Robstown, Texas which is a western suburb of Corpus Christi.   The refinery is expected to be completed in 2024 and in full swing production by 2025.  It is one of the 19 future battery plants being developed in the States currently, but it is further along than most.  If you would like to read more of the article from The Houston Chronicle for free on MSN.com, please click the link: Elon Musk and Greg Abbott celebrate another Texas partnership as Tesla buildslithium refinery (msn.com).

If you would like to check out the DOE’s map of Investments going into American-Made Energy, please click the link: Investments in American-Made Energy | Department of Energy.

Don’t forget to check out our ESC’s website or contact us via the email in the blog, if you need help with developing a project. 

We hope you have a great and relaxing night!

UCLA's SeaChange is it the way to help us with climate change?

Happy Twos-day!  Happy Tuesday! 

We know we usually speak about energy, but this article is one of the strangest ideas we’ve read to help climate change, and engineers really do think out of the box.  Did anyone read The Houston Chronicle’s Texas Inc Section on Sunday, May 7, 2023, and their reprint of an Associated Press article called, “Researchers looking to ocean as a way to remove carbon”?  The article is about the Engineering faculty from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA).  They have made a floating laboratory vessel which is removing calcium from the seawater in the Port of Los Angeles.  The ocean does many things and has been called the lungs of the planet for a long time, and it provides this function by absorbing carbon dioxide through its currents and plants, but at a cost of making the seawater more acidic which damages delicate ecosystems like coral reefs.  UCLA’s faculty have designed a vessel to use technology they’ve created called SeaChange which is a process where an electrical charge is sent through moving seawater in tanks on the vessel and it causes chemical reaction process that makes the carbon become a solid like carbon carbonate, and then the seawater is returned to the sea to resume its job of absorbing more carbon dioxide.  The solid carbon carbonate will then be disposed of by allowing it to fall to the sea floor.  They already have ideas expanding their SeaChange process and will be having a showing in Singapore soon.  One idea for the new process is it could be used on sea vessels that travel the seven seas.  Wow, if this works to scale this could really help climate change, and maybe save our coral reefs from the acidic seas that are destroying them.  If you would like to read more of the article from the Associated Press, please click the link: California researchers attempt ocean climate solution | AP News.

If you would like to read more about the SeaChange technology from the University of California Los Angeles, please click the link: Could the ocean hold the key to reducing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere? | UCLA.

Don’t forget to check out our ESC's website or contact us via the email in the blog, if you need help with a project. 

We hope you have a great and relaxing night!

New Methane Rule from PHMSA!

Happy Monday!  Welcome back to another week! 

Did anyone read The Houston Chronicle’s reprint of an Associated Press article on Saturday, May 6, 2023 called, “New pipeline rules target methane leaks – Plan would cut 1 million metric tons by 2030”?  The article is about the proposed new rule from the US Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) division.  The new PHMSA’s rule would update an old federal leak detection and repair standards where human senses of a gas leak would change to advanced technologies which are readily available in today’s marketplace which will detect and fix methane as well as other corrosive gases leaks, and this rule will affect nearly three million miles of natural gas pipelines across the country.  If the rule passes, it will rid the air of up to one million metric tons of methane and other corrosive gases and help us reach our goals for 2030 and help the air quality of the people who live in the vicinity of the pipelines.  The rule was developed because of the PIPES Act of 2020 which made a series of regulatory administrative directives targeting pipeline safety supported and approved by bipartisan group in Congress.  If you would like to read the article from the Associated Press on MSN, please click the link: New pipeline agency rule aimed at cutting methane leaks (msn.com).

If you would like to check out more about the PIPES Act of 2020, please click the link: PIPES Act of 2020 Overview | PHMSA (dot.gov).

Don’t forget to check out our ESC's website or contact us via the email in the blog, if you need help updating your equipment to the upcoming rule. 

We hope you have a great and relaxing night!

US EIA's Monthly Reports are available!

The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) released their Monthly Reports by May 2, 2023 are all now available from the EIA website. 

See what happened last month in the Petroleum Marketing Monthly by clicking the link:  Petroleum Marketing Monthly (PMM) - May 2023 With Data for February 2023 (eia.gov).

See what happened last month in Monthly Crude Oil and Natural Gas Production by clicking the link: EIA-914 monthly production report.

See how crude moved in the Monthly Crude Oil by Rail by clicking the link: U.S. Movements of Crude Oil by Rail (eia.gov).

See what happened in the Monthly Densified Biomass Fuel Report by clicking the link: U.S. Energy Information Administration - EIA - Independent Statistics and Analysis.

Have a good day!

US EIA Weekly Updates for Petroleum & Other Liquids, Natural Gas are now available! Mexico's Energy Analysis is also available!

The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) Weekly Reports for Petroleum and Other Liquids, Gasoline and Diesel Fuel, and Natural Gas for the week ending May 5, 2023 are all now available from the EIA website. 

See what happened this Week in Petroleum by clicking the link: This Week in Petroleum - U.S.Energy Information Administration (EIA).

See what happened in the Weekly Petroleum Status Report by clicking the link: Weekly Petroleum Status Report - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

See what happened this week in Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update, by clicking the link: Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

See what else happened this week in Natural Gas Weekly Update by clicking the link: Natural Gas Weekly Update (eia.gov).

See what happened this week in Natural Gas Storage by clicking the link:  Weekly Natural Gas Storage Report - EIA.

We would like to note there is no Heating Oil and Propane Update until October 2023. 

 

The US EIA Energy Information Administration (EIA) published its Country Analysis for: 

Mexico was released in March, please check it out: International -U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

Have a relaxing and fun weekend!

Green Hydrogen company is getting an influx of investment!

Happy Thursday!  We have almost made it to the weekend!

Did anyone read The Houston Chronicle’s reprint of an Associated Press article on Thursday, April 27, 2023 called, “Green Hydrogen firm raises $250M – Ohmium will scale up India plant, boost research at California site, add employees”?  The article is about green hydrogen having a major win with an influx of money being invested into it, and it is getting a seat at the table for renewable energy.  Ohmium has raised $250 million dollars and it will be putting it to go use by investing in increasing production of its electrolyzers plant abroad, putting money into research at its headquarters in California, and adding people to its rolls.   The world seems to see the use in using renewable energy to run the electrolyzers to split water all the while making hydrogen which is believed to be a cleaner form of energy especially in regards to making steel and fertilizer which will help clean up heavy industry.  The International Energy Agency published in September 2022 that global hydrogen has reached a demand of 94 million tons in 2021, but for us to reach net-zero by 2050 we will need demand to go to 200 million tons by 2030.  We will also need to make more green hydrogen not blue hydrogen like we do now.  All of this goes to show that CERAWeek may have been right when then said we will be turning to hydrogen to help accomplish our goals of cleaning up emissions to help reduce our effect on climate change.     If you would like to read the article from the Associated Press, please click the link: Climate solution: Green hydrogen company Ohmium raises $250M | AP News.

If you would like to check out more about what the International Energy Agency has to say about hydrogen, please click the link: Hydrogen Supply – Analysis - IEA.

Don’t forget to check out our ESC’s website or contact us via the email in the blog.  We would like to help you figure out, if your idea will work in getting your product to your clients!

We hope you have a great and relaxing night!

Ship Ahoy! TS Kennedy has Arrived for the Texas A&M Galveston Maritime Academy!

Happy Wednesday!

Did anyone read the article from the Greater Houston Port Bureau’s (GHPB) Port Bureau News Newsletter Second Quarter 2023 Edition this week called,” Texas A&M Galveston Receives New Training Ship TS Kennedy”?  Back in March we went to the Monthly GHPB’s Commerce Club Luncheon, and the guest was Col. Michael E. Fossum, Vice President of Texas A&M Galveston and Chief Operating Officer and Superintendent of the Maritime Academy.  One of the things Col. Fossum spoke about was they were expecting a bigger training vessel.  Well, it has arrived!  At the end of April, Texas A&M Galveston Maritime Academy received their training vessel from Massachusetts’ Maritime Academy, it can accommodate all the cadets in the academy.  The ship called; “TS Kennedy” is a 540-foot vessel that will allow the cadets yearlong training.  Col. Fossum also spoke about they were being built by the Department of Transportation, MURAD Division a state-of-the-art vessel, and it was due to be completed 2025.  Well, that vessel now has a name, “NSMV Lone Star State.”  It sounds like April was a good month for the Galveston Texas A&M Maritime Academy.  If you would like to read the article about the TS Kennedy or NSMV Lone Star State vessels, please click the link: Texas A&M at Galveston Receives New Training Ship TS Kennedy - Greater Houston Port Bureau (txgulf.org).

You could check out our Blog on Thursday March 9th, 2023, if you want to see what else Col. Michael E. Fossum spoke about.  Please click the link: Energy Specialists Consulting News & Info: Learnings from the Commerce Club Luncheon on Thursday, March 9, 2023 (nrgspecialistsnews.blogspot.com).

If you would like more information about the Maritime Academy at Texas A&M in Galveston or any of its other programs, please click the link: Texas A&M University at Galveston - Texas A&M Galveston, TX (tamug.edu).

If you would like to learn more about the training and emergency relief vessel being built for the Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD), please click the link: National Security Multi-Mission Vessels | MARAD (dot.gov).

Don’t forget to check out our ESC’s website or contact us via the email in the blog, if you have a project you would like to see get off the ground!

We hope you have a great and relaxing night!

Stratos Oxy's Large Scale Carbon Capture facility has broken ground!

Happy Tuesday!

Did anyone read The Houston Chronicle’s Business Section on Saturday, April 29, 2023, called, “Permian Basin pivot Occidental Petroleum’s carbon capture project in West Texas is unveiled”?  In the article, it speaks about the groundbreaking ceremony on Friday in Ector County, Texas where Stratos Occidental Petroleum’s (Oxy) large scale carbon capture facility’s construction has begun.  Stratos will hopefully be the game changer in the fight against climate change is what Oxy hopes and it will launch itself as a major player in carbon management.  Stratos is the first of five planned carbon capture hubs in the Texas and Louisiana area, and it is expected to capture 1 million metric tons of carbon dioxide yearly.  They recently announced a location under the Liberty, Chambers, and Jefferson County area which will remove approximately 1.2 billion metric tons of CO2 and it will be called, “Bluebonnet.”  Oxy is in the works on developing a location in the Corpus Christi area.  Oxy’s subsidiary 1PointFive will be the operators of the hubs.  If you would like to read the article, please check out The Houston Chronicle.

If you would like to read the article from The Houston Chronicle, please click the link: Oxy's carbon capture project in West Texas is unveiled (houstonchronicle.com).

If you would like to read more about 1Pointfive’s Bluebonnet facility planned along the Texas Gulf Coast from Oxy; please click the link: 1PointFive Announces Plan to Develop a Carbon Capture and Sequestration Hub in Southeast Texas (oxy.com).

You could check out our Blog on Monday March 6th, 2023, if you want to see the cliff notes version.  

Don’t forget to check out our ESC’s website or contact us via the email in the blog, if you have a project you would like to see get off the ground!

We hope you have a great night!

*Disclaimer – please note there may be a fee involved to see this article in The Houston Chronicle.

New petrochemical projects are expected to have a shortage of workers and supplies which will lengthen the time it takes to complete.

Happy Monday and glad to see you, after such a busy weekend! 

Did anyone read the newsletter article from Reuters Events Downstream last week called, “Worker availability for new petrochemical projects tight with some construction materials in short supply”?  The article is about the numbers for the second quarter are coming out early from the Associated General Contractors of America and they aren’t good.  There is a short supply of skilled workers for construction of new petrochemical projects and maintenance as well as some supplies like cement and electrical equipment.  With the shortage of workers and short supply of cement new projects are expected to take longer to complete.   Texas and Louisiana have had an influx in the number of skilled workers, but they still need more.  As for supply delivery times have increased for switchgears, transformers, and other specialized electrical equipment, and should be considered when setting the timeline on a project. Prices for skilled workers like electricians have increased 20 percent, and cement has increased 15 percent compared to the prices from the last year.  Projects scheduled now are expected to take longer than before the pandemic due to the shortage of skilled workers and cement and other supplies.  If you would like to read more from the article in the Reuters Events Downstream, please click the link: Worker availability for new petrochemical projects tight with some construction materials in short supply | Reuters Events | Downstream. 

If you would like to discuss a project idea you have, contact us.   We also have a team of inspectors to help your project or turnover keep up with best practices.   Contact us by clicking the link in the Blog or going to our website.  We look forward to helping you!

We hope you have a great night and rest of your week!

*Disclaimer – please note there may be a fee involved to see this article in Reuters Events Downstream Newsletter.